{FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS OF THE PLAN WHICH RELATE TO MOUNTAIN BIKING AS REFERENCED IN THE HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES MASTER PLAN FOR KOKEE AND WAIMEA STATE PARKS}

Representatives of mountain biking groups have requested access to the park, and development of designated mountain biking trails. A suggestion has been made to designate mountain biking tracks within timber groves where native natural communities are not likely to be impacted.

There is a vocal demand for mountain bike access to trails in Koke'e and Waimea Canyon. The level of demand is unknown. Use of existing park trails is prohibited due to the potential for environmental damage and conflicts with hikers and hunters on the trails. For informational purposes, mountain bike impacts and user limits could be monitored on open trails in the State Forest Reserves.

CONFLICT EVALUATION

During the public comment period the use of the trails within the Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Parks by mountain bicycle enthusiasts was raised as an issue. The members of the Koke'e Task Force evaluated this use and concluded that the bicyclists were not to be excluded from the Parks, however, they were to be limited to the unpaved roads in the parks Reasons for this decision included the potential for conflicts between hikers and hunters on the trail, and the damage to trails and sensitive natural areas caused by mountain bikes.

Off-road bicycling is currently prohibited within Koke'e and Waimea Canyon State Parks. Numerous conflicts with mountain bike use, including damage to trails and sensitive ecological areas, erosion, introduction of seed and plant material, encounters with hikers and hunters, and noise that frightens game in hunting areas, are cited as the reasons for prohibiting mountain bikers from park trails and natural areas. The prohibition is announced on a sign posted at the entrance of Waimea Canyon State Park on Koke'e Road and Waimea Canyon Drive.

*Mountain biking is allowed on certain roads within the State Forest Reserves. All of these roads are accessed through Koke'e and Waimea Canyon State Parks.

{CONFUSION BETWEEN MOTORCYLES AND BIKES IS CLEAR}

Off-road motorcycle riders regularly trespass into the park, particularly at lower elevations near the entrance to Waimea Canyon State Park and via Waimea Canyon Trail. Illegal motorcycle use is credited with destroying ground cover, causing erosion, creating unauthorized trails, spreading weed species, disturbing native birds and game animals, and conflicting with hunters and hikers using the park. Enforcing prohibitions on motorcycle use within the park is difficult due to their mobility and the large areas in which they are known to operate.

Best Management Approach
• Develop off-street parking for horse trailers at Kukui Trailhead and Nu'alolo Trailhead.
• Permit recreational bicycle riding on designated unimproved roads throughout the parks.
• Prohibit mountain biking on all recreational trails within the parks.
• Develop brochure identifying areas that are open and closed to bicycle riding and rules, restrictions and fines for riding.
• It is difficult to differentiate enforcement of mountain biking vs. trail or road riding. Heavy fines and equipment confiscation may deter mountain bikers from riding in restricted areas.

{No mention of mountain bikes as a stressor of flora, fauna or habitat in the official review.}

FLORA, FAUNA AND HABITAT
Conditions / Fragility (Stressors)
Koke'e and Waimea Canyon State Parks contain a range of ecological resources, from pristine native natural communities representing a variety of vegetation zones, to heavily modified landscapes populated by introduced plant and animal species, and a mixture of transitional conditions. For planning purposes, different environmental zones can be delineated based on their constituent characteristics, ecological sensitivity, intactness, degree of degradation, accessibility, and level of development. The zones represent different opportunities for planning park programs and amenities to meet the goals and values of each resource category.

Additional considerations affecting the parks' flora, fauna, and natural areas includes:

* Native forests are threatened by alien plants, animals, vandalism and inadvertent damage from park users and resource collectors.
* Intentional and accidental introductions of invasive species can cause native habitat loss.
* Commercial helicopter noise negatively impacts forest birds.
* Problem animals include: chickens, feral ungulates, invasive insect species such as ants, ground nesting wasps, and termites, and rats.
* There is no baseline inventory for insects and arthropods, native forest birds, aquatic life, and soil micro organisms.
* In Koke'e State Park, Kaunuohua Ridge marks the border between more pristine native habitats upland, and more humanmodified forests below.
* Pesticide use poses a threat to the environment.
* Pigs, goats and deer eat rare plants, cause slope erosion, and destroy fragile habitat. Deer are a particular threat to mesic forests in Koke'e.
* Excessive resource gathering damages plant growth and reproduction and degrades the park environment.
* Motorized dirtbikes damage sensitive natural areas and frighten forest birds.

EQUESTRIAN USE

Nearly all of the trails in Waimea Canyon State Park and the lower regions of Koke'e State Park are well-suited for horseback riding. Two trails in particular are popular with hunters and recreational equestrians: Kukui Trail in Waimea Canyon State Park provides access to the canyon floor, numerous bottom land trails, and several major hunting areas. There are no equestrian facilities at the trail head, nor parking facilities for trailer parking.

Nu'alolo Trail in Koke'e State Park provides equestrian access to the Ku'ia Natural Area Reserve and Hunting Unit H.

Just another reason HI is a capital F when it comes to XC.
The road cycling scene is nice. XC leaves very very much to be desired.


{FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS OF THE PLAN WHICH RELATE TO MOUNTAIN BIKING AS REFERENCED IN THE HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES MASTER PLAN FOR KOKEE AND WAIMEA STATE PARKS}

Representatives of mountain biking groups have requested access to the park, and development of designated mountain biking trails. A suggestion has been made to designate mountain biking tracks within timber groves where native natural communities are not likely to be impacted.

There is a vocal demand for mountain bike access to trails in Koke'e and Waimea Canyon. The level of demand is unknown. Use of existing park trails is prohibited due to the potential for environmental damage and conflicts with hikers and hunters on the trails. For informational purposes, mountain bike impacts and user limits could be monitored on open trails in the State Forest Reserves.

CONFLICT EVALUATION

During the public comment period the use of the trails within the Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Parks by mountain bicycle enthusiasts was raised as an issue. The members of the Koke'e Task Force evaluated this use and concluded that the bicyclists were not to be excluded from the Parks, however, they were to be limited to the unpaved roads in the parks Reasons for this decision included the potential for conflicts between hikers and hunters on the trail, and the damage to trails and sensitive natural areas caused by mountain bikes.

Off-road bicycling is currently prohibited within Koke'e and Waimea Canyon State Parks. Numerous conflicts with mountain bike use, including damage to trails and sensitive ecological areas, erosion, introduction of seed and plant material, encounters with hikers and hunters, and noise that frightens game in hunting areas, are cited as the reasons for prohibiting mountain bikers from park trails and natural areas. The prohibition is announced on a sign posted at the entrance of Waimea Canyon State Park on Koke'e Road and Waimea Canyon Drive.

*Mountain biking is allowed on certain roads within the State Forest Reserves. All of these roads are accessed through Koke'e and Waimea Canyon State Parks.

{CONFUSION BETWEEN MOTORCYLES AND BIKES IS CLEAR}

Off-road motorcycle riders regularly trespass into the park, particularly at lower elevations near the entrance to Waimea Canyon State Park and via Waimea Canyon Trail. Illegal motorcycle use is credited with destroying ground cover, causing erosion, creating unauthorized trails, spreading weed species, disturbing native birds and game animals, and conflicting with hunters and hikers using the park. Enforcing prohibitions on motorcycle use within the park is difficult due to their mobility and the large areas in which they are known to operate.

Best Management Approach
• Develop off-street parking for horse trailers at Kukui Trailhead and Nu'alolo Trailhead.
• Permit recreational bicycle riding on designated unimproved roads throughout the parks.
• Prohibit mountain biking on all recreational trails within the parks.
• Develop brochure identifying areas that are open and closed to bicycle riding and rules, restrictions and fines for riding.
• It is difficult to differentiate enforcement of mountain biking vs. trail or road riding. Heavy fines and equipment confiscation may deter mountain bikers from riding in restricted areas.

{No mention of mountain bikes as a stressor of flora, fauna or habitat in the official review.}

FLORA, FAUNA AND HABITAT
Conditions / Fragility (Stressors)
Koke'e and Waimea Canyon State Parks contain a range of ecological resources, from pristine native natural communities representing a variety of vegetation zones, to heavily modified landscapes populated by introduced plant and animal species, and a mixture of transitional conditions. For planning purposes, different environmental zones can be delineated based on their constituent characteristics, ecological sensitivity, intactness, degree of degradation, accessibility, and level of development. The zones represent different opportunities for planning park programs and amenities to meet the goals and values of each resource category.

Additional considerations affecting the parks' flora, fauna, and natural areas includes:

* Native forests are threatened by alien plants, animals, vandalism and inadvertent damage from park users and resource collectors.
* Intentional and accidental introductions of invasive species can cause native habitat loss.
* Commercial helicopter noise negatively impacts forest birds.
* Problem animals include: chickens, feral ungulates, invasive insect species such as ants, ground nesting wasps, and termites, and rats.
* There is no baseline inventory for insects and arthropods, native forest birds, aquatic life, and soil micro organisms.
* In Koke'e State Park, Kaunuohua Ridge marks the border between more pristine native habitats upland, and more humanmodified forests below.
* Pesticide use poses a threat to the environment.
* Pigs, goats and deer eat rare plants, cause slope erosion, and destroy fragile habitat. Deer are a particular threat to mesic forests in Koke'e.
* Excessive resource gathering damages plant growth and reproduction and degrades the park environment.
* Motorized dirtbikes damage sensitive natural areas and frighten forest birds.

EQUESTRIAN USE

Nearly all of the trails in Waimea Canyon State Park and the lower regions of Koke'e State Park are well-suited for horseback riding. Two trails in particular are popular with hunters and recreational equestrians: Kukui Trail in Waimea Canyon State Park provides access to the canyon floor, numerous bottom land trails, and several major hunting areas. There are no equestrian facilities at the trail head, nor parking facilities for trailer parking.

Nu'alolo Trail in Koke'e State Park provides equestrian access to the Ku'ia Natural Area Reserve and Hunting Unit H.

Just another reason HI is a capital F when it comes to XC.
The road cycling scene is nice. XC leaves very very much to be desired.

IMBA gave us a C, calling MTB organization nearly nonexistent, and noting a downward trend.

This is an accurate assesment.

Attitudes and issues here are different than the rest of the US.

There are a lot of places to ride, it's just not that easy to figure out, and that can be a good thing.

Eric

I'm just disappointed seeing as when I have a year left when I get back to Oahu that the XC opps aren't better.

The closest to the singletrack I'm used to is Kuloa Ranch but outside of the 24 hr race I did it seems the occasional open to the public weekend rides have ended. I would gladly pay 25 bucks a weekend to camp and ride there if a few routes were marked and the opportunity was given.

The other trails in the mountains are way short and "obstacle" ridden. Aeia, Pupukea and the like.

Mililani is OK if with a group seeing how its "Illegal".

I guess the ditch trail and area (the area being posted too) is the next best with the longer Miluwauni (sp?) trail being ok too.

So what is the attitude? I guess permanent residents can ride all the illegal trails and "outsiders" can ride when invited. And that's good enough. Except for guides making big $$. Yeah right.

Oahu should at least rate below an average grade and esp for XC. The bit about little organization and downward trend I agree with.





IMBA gave us a C, calling MTB organization nearly nonexistent, and noting a downward trend.

This is an accurate assesment.

Attitudes and issues here are different than the rest of the US.

There are a lot of places to ride, it's just not that easy to figure out, and that can be a good thing.

Eric

seems like it would take quite a few people paying $25 to pay for the labor to keep the trails free of obstacles.

yeah true---locals know all the illegal spots. I can see where the ranch would just want to cater to 100$ a pop tourist events.

I miss Texas where there are dozens of trails on private land where there is a 3 to 10$ fee to ride and maybe another 5 to 10 to camp. And dozens more spots that are entirely free.

Dont get me wrong tho. I have enjoyed my stay in Oahu and will enjoy my last upcoming year even if it's less than I'm accustomed to. Let's just say I'm not sorry I made Hawaii one of my Army tours. It's just not what I was expecting. I guess I can catch a clue when many of the bike shops carry down hill rigs and top of the line xc rigs are awol.

seems like it would take quite a few people paying $25 to pay for the labor to keep the trails free of obstacles.

Sad to say. I've heard this from bikeshops and from customers in the shops. When you go out on the trails, you really don't see many other bikers. Heck, even my group of riders (and we've been doing this for a loooonnnnggg time) isn't riding as much. We're going surfing or to the gym or doing the urban trials thing.

I know this past year has been rather wet, so that's really limited riding. Mililani is a mess. Lots and lots of new ruts from the MX'ers. Lots of dirt that has simply washed away in all the rain, exposing rocks and roots. It used to be you could clean most of the trails with enough practice. Not any more. It needs time to dry up and some serious trail work.

Everything is still "open", except for Tantalus (which has been closed since '96 or so) and I've been told that people still poach it. Personally, I don't. Nothing has closed due to development or access. The riding is different here than on the mainland. Lots. It's slower and more technical, that's for sure.

You got DH in town at St. Louis Heights and out at near Kapolei. You shuttle up, ride down. Repeat. It's easier in that aspect. Not as much work as say...climbing out of Pupuke'a into the Kahuku MX park.

I guess what I'm saying is that the diehard XC riders are still riding. When the weather permits (and that sounds pretty lame as I type it. But hey, it's not fun going home and cleaning up your bike after every ride because it's uber muddy. Or walking because your back wheel isn't spinning)....


Oni hasn't been off-road in a month and is getting a wee bit testy....

oni-lol------------I havent been on a real bike in months because of this iraq situation.

actually I reckon the pupukea to moto area is my favorite ride---altho the last time I was there it was more rutted than ever. And the road going through the moto area itself had fresh gravel or something laid on it severely slowing mt bikes down.

is all good. like u said there are ways to get a ride in.

MTBKauai and Oni, thanks for the updates on your local scene. I'm hoping we can get more discussion going on in this forum, we need to start communicating amongst the islands. We think we are making some progress, but forget that decisions are made in Honolulu.

So come on people, let's hear it, what's going on, what needs to be done. Or are we better off just hiding?